by Sylvia Hagar Photos by Ken Penn
From the January 2008 issue of PRICK Magazine
Philly girl Kelly Lee is quite the looker, with big eyes
and bright pink hair. This 26 year old is definitely a
high maintenance girly girl; she never leaves the
house without make-up or high heels, and she owns a huge
collection of perfumes. Besides the passions for the pretty
things in life, Kelly also spends a lot of time on getting
tattooed and wears her ink proudly.
When did you get your first tattoo?
I think I was 15 or 16. I got a butterfly on my stomach that was later covered
up. I have a bunch of "gems" from when I was young...sweet tribes
(laughs).
As a heavily tattooed girl have you had any positive or
negative experiences with the not-so-inked-up crowd?
I get a lot of old ladies that think I am wearing a shirt, and they ask me
where they can get one (laughs). A lot of older people actually tell me
that the tattoos look great, and that they normally don't like tattoos and
pink hair, but that I pull it off and that they
think it's awesome.
What's your general opinion on
tattoos?
I am kind of an all or nothing person. I would
rather see someone heavily tattooed than
someone who has three sporadic tattoos. I
have to say, it is becoming more acceptable
being heavily tattooed.What I don’t like are
idiots that are just turning 18 and running
around with their necks and hands tattooed,
and all of the sudden have sleeves. I think
getting tattooed is becoming a trend, so
these kids are just doing it because they
think it is cool, and will later regret it.
Do you have any regrets about any
of your tattoos?
I have a bunch of cover ups due to getting
tattooed too young. I had a sweet tribe on
my wrist, so of course it was a lot of black.
My friend and tattoo artist Justin
Weatherholtz was thinking about of what
would cover it up, and we decided a giant afro would. I also
thought it would be funny to get a goat head and 666 on my
chest.Which I will admit, I still think is rather funny, although
I have realized it may not actually be that funny on me. I got
it when I didn't work a real job at all and lived off of modeling
money. Once I got back into the “real world," people
couldn't handle it. It was too much negative attention, and
it was never finished so I decided to cover it up, hence
my mostly black chest piece.
Do you have a favorite tattoo artist?
Patrick Haney, because he's my lover and his tattoos
he did on me made me appreciate tradional
work a lot more. Chris Conn, and my boyfriend is
yelling at me to say Dan Higgs.
What are your plans and resolutions
for the New Year?
Quit smoking, start and finish a backpiece. Also
finish left my arm that I started ages ago.
